Can washing machine



y 1931. H. D. LATHROP 1,803,627

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l a 1931. H. D. LATHROP 1,803,627

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3 v :25 6 E mat/2i:-

May 5,1931. H. D. LATHROP CAN WASHING MACHIN..

Filed Jan. 26, 1927 -6 Sheets- Sheet 5 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. D. LATHROP CAN WASHING MACHINE "J 5 Q 2:. Q33 4 Filed Jan.

May 5, 1931.

May 5, 1931. H. D. LATHROP CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan.

26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 fife/2Z0).

45 421943. laid May 5, 1931. LATHROP 1,803,627

CAN WAS HING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 jz zz /z 5'01: Win/asses,- A21 ,2 la

' taken substantially on the l at ented 5,1931- PATENT OFFICE I 43.32 15. LA'IHROP, or "cnrcaeo, rumors can wasnme mom I Applicationyflled January. 2a, 1927. Serial 1%; 163,619.

This invention relates to improvements in can washing machines of the type in which the cans are advanced step by step, through successive cleansing operations, and the pri-' mary object in view is the simplification of the actuating and controlling mechanism,

. and the increasing in effectiveness of operation.

'san1e source of power for actuating the ste by step advancing mechanism, and for e fecting ejection of the cleansing fluids, whereby the cans are assured of being in operative relation to the cleansing jets during operation of such jets, and the cessation of such jet operations assured during relative movement of thecans. I

With these and further objects in view, as will in part hereinartei be stated and part become apparent, the invention comprises 7 a can carriage, fluid actuated means "for shifting the carriage, a by-passfor thefiuid, and means for the controlling discharge of the fluid through the by-pass anddirecting .1 the same into cleansing relation to the cans.

The invention also comprises other novel -constructions, combinations and arrange mentsof parts, as will hereinafter be stated and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, v

, Fig. 1 is a view 111 side elevation of a machine embodying the features of the. present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, looking at the charging end.

' Fig.3 is aliorizontal' section'taken'onthe planes indicated b line 3-3 of Fig.- 5 and looking downwar theparts beneath being seenintheplan.-= I Fig. 3" is an enlarged, detailed, horizontal section through the water heating apparatus and connectlons, the connections being broken.

Fig. 4- -is alongitudinal, vertical section by line-H of Fig. 3 and ookingtoward the front side of the machine. y

. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section-taken substantially on the-flames indicated by line 5 -5 of Fig. 3, and coking inv the A further object is the utilization of the tergent solution j ets,

back.

angle zontal web thereof-is a flat bar 14, which is bolted or otherwise a propriately fixed to the vertical web of t e respective bar. 13.

lane indicated being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary vertical sections taken substantially .on the planes 5 indicated by lines 66 and 7-'7 respectively of Fig. 3, and looking in the directions shown by the arrows. 1

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional elevation of the fluid operated carriage actuator.

Fig, 9 is a top plan view of the upper hot water jets detachedt Fig. 10 is a similar view of the upper de- 5 Referring to the drawin s by numerals, 5

indicates an a propriate rame, preferably in the form 0 a rectangular skeleton made up of angle bars and including vertical standards 6-6. for the upstanding rear plate. For convenience of identification of relative directions, that part of the machine seen at the left in Fig. 3 will be designated. the charging end and the opposite end will be known as the discharging end, while the parts in the foreground of the figwe will be referred to as the front si e of the machine, and the opposite side as the Within the frame 5 is mounted'tank 7," which is divided by partition plate -8 into compartments 9 and 10 for the purpose of preventing intermixture of certain of the cleansing solutions.

Mounted'on and fixed to the main portion of frame a5 is a pair of guide rails 11-, referably in the form of angle bars, an -be-v tween the rails 11 is arranged a. carriage 12. The carriage 12 is preferably made, up of longitudinally disposed parallel spaced an 1e bars 13-43 rigi" I y connected together y' cross-plates 12 12 arallel to and s aced from the vertical 'we" of each ar 13 and upstandingfrom the'hori- The n per edges'of the vertical webs of bars 13 an 14 are disposed below'the horizontal, flP 'r yt e upper edges O fbars 11, so th t a can may rest on bars 11 without touching carriage 12, as clearly seen in Fig. 7. Each pair of bars 13 and 14 forms a relatively narrow channel, and, within said channels, can-feeding detents or dogs '13 13' are pivoted, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 7. As a matter of convenience of construction, the bolts which anchor the bars 14 to the bars 13 may be'utilized as the pivots for the dogs 13. Each dog 13 is pivoted at a point in its length at one side of the middle, which causes one end to normally rest by gravity upon the floor of the channel in which the dog is pivoted, that is, the upper surface of the horizontal web of the respective angle bar 13, the lower endportion of the dog thus acting as a weight to retain the upper end portion upstandin above the channel and above the plane 0 the upper edges of bars 11 in position to engage successive. cans. Each dog'13' will remain with its shorter end portion raised during a feeding step of carriage 12, but freely pivots downward when necessary duringreverse movement of the carriage. v

Carriage 12 is mountedto reciprocate freely within those limits represented by the distance somewhat greater than a step in the step by step progress of a can passing through the machine in the process of being cleansed. lhe actual distance of advance of a can is governed by the effective travel of the pair of dogs 13' after the dogs have engaged the can. Antifriction supports are provided for the carriage, and preferably consist of pairs of rollers 1515 arranged near the end portions of and beneath the carriage, each pair being connected by an axle or shaft loosely journaled in a palr of pendent U-brackets 16, 16, fixed to the underfaces of the rails 11-11 near the end portions thereof. Rails 11 extend beyond the frame 5, as clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4, at the charging end of the machine for receiving successive cans to be engaged by dogs 13 and slid along rails 11 for advancing them to the successive cleansing positions. At the discharge end, a receiving shelf 17 is provided for the delivery of discharged, cleansed cans.

The reciprocations of the carriage 12 are effected through the employment of a fluid motor to move the carriage through the advance step, and a counter-balance to return the carriage when released by the motor. As best seen in Figs. 2 and'3, a hydraulic pump 18 is preferably mounted on the frame 5 at the back of the tank 7 and may be connected to any appropriate source of power, such as the electrical motor illustrated; Arranged in the compartment 10 of tank 7 is a feeder pipe 19, which communicates with the intake side of the pump 18. "A discharge pipe 60 leads from the pump 18 and communicates with the cleansing fluid discharge pipe 36 directly, and with a discharge pipe 22 past a by-pass valve 20. The valve 20 is of the common commercial type constructed to resist opening-up to a previously determined pressure and then to open and permit flowing of the pressure fluid as the pressure rises to and above the predetermined point. It is customary to adjust such by-pass valves according to the pressure required. In the present instance, 35 lbs. per square inch has been found a very efiicient pressure at which to set the valve 20. Thus,.when the fluid may discharge through pipe 36 freely, so that the pressure at the valve 20 is below that at which the valve leaves its seat, there will be no pressure from the ump 18 to the pipe 22, but, when the ree discharge through pipe 36 is cut off, the rising pressure at valve 20 will effect the opening of the valve and consequent discharge of the pressure fluid th ough the pipe 22. A bleeder port 22 leads from the pipe 22 and discharges into compartment 10 of tank 7. The pipe 22 is provided with a hand-oper ated control valve 22 and the bleeder port 22 is provided with a similar valve 22 As best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a cylinder 21 is arranged longitudinally of and fixed to one of the rails 11, as by rigidly connected brackets 2323 anchored to the respective rail 11 and to the respective ends of cylinder 21. As best seen in Figure 8, a piston 23 is located within the cylinder 21, and has a piston rod extending through an appropriate gland atthe end of the cylinder and beyond the cylinder, and being rigidly fixed to a bracket 25, which, in turn, is connected directly to the carriage 12. The free terminal portion 24 of the piston rod,

extending beyond the bracket25, is provided with a bufling cap 51 for the purposes hereinafter stated/ The pipe 22, as clearly seen in Fig. 3, leads from the discharge side of bypass 20 to the intake end of the cylinder 21, so that when the valve 20 is open,

pressure fluid acts on the piston 23 to actuate said piston and the carriage 12 for moving the carriage in the direction of advance. After completion of the advance stroke of piston 23 discharge through pipe 36 is permitted, by apparatus hereinafter described, which causes the relaxing of pressure on valve 20 and permits the seating thereof, so that piston'23 is no longer under pressure. cylinder 21 begins to flow back through the pipe 22 and out through the-bleeder port 22. A cable 26 is anchored to the carriage 12 at one end'of the cable and is threaded over grooved pulley 27, and at the other end anchored to the pendent weight 28, as best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Pulley 27 is carried by an appropriate shaft journaled in brackets carried by the bars 11. As soon as the pressure is relaxed from piston 23,

Thereupon, the liquid from the the counter-balance stress of weight 28 be gins to return carriage 12 to its initial position. Incident to such return, the piston 23' is returned to its initial position approximately at the end of the cylinder 21 with which pipe 22' communicates, and the carriage 12 is thus restored to its starting point readyv for the next reciprocation. Theleeder ort 22' functions at all times, but

is of su ciently small cross-sectional area to avoid interference with the delivery of the requisite pressure to the piston 23. The

tory work, Also, the valve .22 is set to control theefiective cross-sectionalarea of the bleeder port 22', whereby, through the reaction or resistance to discharge of liquid through valve 22', the speed of the return stroke of the carriage may be controlled with precision. The valves 22 and 22", therefore, enable efli'ective governing of the speed of travel of the carriage 12. It is, of course, desirable ordinarily to have the piston 23 move relatively quickly for the advance step of carriage 12, as the cleansing operations are suspended, as will be hereinafter made clear, during such advance stroke, but the return stroke is preferably ordinarily slowed down to the extent found desirable incident to the fact that all cleansing operations occur only during and subsequentto this stroke and before the beginning of the next advancing stroke.

For the purpose of confining and restricting the several cleansing fluids being directed against the cams bein washed, a hood 29 is arranged above carriage 12, and is supported by a rock shaft 31, journaled' in bearings 32, attached to the upper end portions of standards .6. The back side of the hood 29 is open, the several enclosing chambers .for the cams bein completed by the back wall or plate 6 rigidly carried by the standards 6. Transverse, vertical partitions 33 are arranged in hood 29 for dividing the same into can containing chambers or compartments. Counter-balancing arms 34 are fixed to the hood 29 and outstand beyond the axis of the pivot 31 and are weighted at 34 sufliciently for equalizing the weight of the hood 29, so that'the hood will remain in a raised or lowered position when moved manually to such positions.

The present improved mechanism is designed for expeditiously and effectively cleansing successive cans, and, to this end, successive cleansing agents are delivered to the cans asthey are advanced by the successive reciprocations of carriage 12, one reciprocation being proportioned in extent to effect movement of a can from a position in one compartment in the hood 29 to a corresponding position. in. the next compartment. Provision is made for the delivering to the interior and exterior of the cans, while in successive positions, of cold water, cleansing sodium or other detergent, hot water and steam successively. 1

In Figs. 4, 5 and 7, a can to be cleansed is indicated-in dots at 61, the can being seen in an inverted osition. A cold water supply pipe 42-, leading from the city main orany other appro riate. source of cold. water supply, 'exten s to a reciprocatm spring-seated valve 46, whose stem'exten s upwardly through an appropriate gland and has its upper end engaged b an 0 rating lever 48, pivoted, at one si e of t e valve stem, to a bracket 47, anchored to the valve housing. Communicating with the discharge end of valve 46 is the dischar e between the rails of the carriage 12 in position for projecting a stream upwardly'under considerable velocity into the can 61 resting on the rails 11.

A drip pan-62, as best seen in Fig. 7, preferably surrounds the lower end portion of the tube of jet 43 at its juncture with pipe 44, and the parts maybe clamped together with an appropriate nut 63 threaded onto jet pipe 43 and engaging the bottom of pan 62 and clamping the same against the upper terminus communicatin with the'jet tube 43. For the purpose 0 rigidity, the pan 62 may also be, secured by bolts 64-64, extending through the horizontal flanges of the rails 11, a spacer sleeve 65 being located about each of the bolts 64 and of a length to be clamped between the upper surface of the bottom of pan 62 and the lower surface of the horizontal flange of the respective rail 11. The pan 62 will serve as a settling pan for the collection of solids dislocated from the can 61 by the stream from jet 43.

A branch pipe 42 leads from the pipe 42 through the wall of tank 7 and is preferably provided with a downturned discharge end portion42 in chamber 10 of tank 7, so as to deliver a supply of water to the tank when required. A hand control valve 42 is arranged in the length of the branch pipe 44 leading to vertically upward y. discharging jet 43. The jet '43 is located of the fitting of pipe 44,

pipe 42 for shutting off the delivery to the tank 7.

A steam pipe 37 extends from any appropriate source of supply, (not illustrated) and communicates with a valve 46, having a controlling and actuating lever 48, similar in, construction and operation to valve 46 and lever 48, and pivoted to a similar bracket 47. Leading from the discharge side of the valve ,46 is a pipe 37, which extends along and within the housing of the tank 7 to a point beneath the'center of the'final location of a can to be cleansed prior to its discharge from the machine. Pipe 37 terminates in an upwardly directed steam jet 41 located in the line of the axis of a can 61 when in the final compartment of the series of compartments of hood 29.

The steam pipe 37, near the valve 46, is provided with a branch 40, which discharges into the heating chamber 45, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The cold water supply pipe 44 is provided with a branch 44, which leads laterally into the heating chamber 45, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5 and in detail in Fig. 3. The pipe 44 preferably enters chamber 45 through its side wall, while the pipe 40 approaches the chamber longitudinally and communicates through the end of the chamber by an injector or discharge nozzle 40 having a tapered tip 40 surrounded by a nozzle hood 40, providing a relatively small annular space 40- about the extremity of the tip 40". The hood 40 enables the surrounding column of Water to initially absorb a certain degree of heat from the approaching steam before the actual mixture of the steam with the water. The steam is thereby more or less reduced to a vapor, so that the reactive resistances of steam discharging into water is avoided and the required supply of steam permitted to enter the chamber 45 sufficiently freely and rapidly to raise the temperature of the water within the chamber 45, and particularly near the discharge end thereof to the required degree of heat before discharge of the water through the outlet pipe 38, which leads from the chamber 45, preferably in alignment with the nozzle 40*. A jet or nozzle 39 upstands from and communicates with an intermediate portion of pipe 38, and is arranged to discharge upwardly substantially in the line of the axis of a can located in the next to the last compartment of hood 29.

The pipe 38 extends beyond the jet 39, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 6, and is turned upward and branched at 35. Upstanding from the free ends of the branch 35 are pipes 35. As a matter of convenience of mechanical construction, unions 35 are interposed in the length of pipes 35*, preferably near the point of communication thereof with pipe 35. The pipes 35 are located adjacent and immediately in front of the back plate 6, and are spaced lengthwise of the machine a distance equal to nearly the -width of the respective chamber of hood 39,

the pipes 35 being located within the third of said chambers countingfrom the charging end of the machine. The pipes 35*- thus extend along and within the vertical angles at the back portion of l1ood'39 formed by the respective hood partitions and the back plate 6', and each pipe 35 is provided with a series of apertures 35 for occasioning the jetting of the hot water, and said apertures are located to cause the jetting water to flow in a direction toward the axis of the can within the particular chamber of the hood 29. The pipes 35, as best seen in Fig. 9, are connected at their upper ends by an equalizing pipe 35, and spaced forwardly of each pipe 35 is a pendant jet pipe 35, the latter pipes being connected at their upper ends by pipes 35 with the respective pipes 35. Pipes 35; as clearly seen in Fig. 4, are closed at their lower ends and provided along their lengths with jet openings 35 directed to cause the flow of jetting water toward the axis of the can within the chamber of hood 29 occupied by pipes 35 and 35 The pipes 35 are located in the vertical angles of said chamber at the front side of the chamber and are spaced from the pipes 35 sufliciently for the passage of a can between the two sets of pipes during its advance through the machine.

The steam supply pipe 37 is formed with a branch 37 leading into the lower portion of they chamber 10 of the tank 7 and valved at 37, so that the contents of chamber 10 may be supplied with steam should it become desirable to raise the temperature thereof. The partition 8 is provided with a valved port 8 communicating between chambers 9 and 10, so that, when desired, communication may be established between said chambers. Discharge pipes 66 lead from the respective compartments of tank 7 and are valved at 66 for convenience in draining and cleaning out.

In operation, the sodium solution or other detergent is drawn by pump 18 from tank 7, through pipe 19 and discharged from the pumpthrough the pipe and branch 36 when free to discharge therefrom and otherwise past the valve 20. The pipe 36 leads in any appropriate manner to the front side of the machine and there communicates through a valve 46', similar in construction, arrangement and operation to valve 46, and provided with a control lever 48 pivoted to a bracket 47 b for actuation of the valve after the manner of the operating of valve 46.

.The discharge side of valve 46", as best seen in Fig. 5, communicates with a pipe 67, ex tending to a point beneath carriage 12 and there provided with an upstanding and up-' wardly discharging jet 68 arranged to discharge substantially in the line of the axis of a can while in the second compartment of hood 29. The pipe 67 extends beyond jet 68 and is branched at 69, the free ends of the branch communicating with upstanding pipes 7 0 similar in construction and arrangement with pipes 35. As a matter of mechanical convenience of construction, each pipe 70 is provided with a union 71 in its of hood 29. Each pipe is provided with jet openings 72 located to direct. the streams toward the axis of the can within the particular hood chamber. As best seen in Figs. 5 and 10, the upper ends of the pipe are connected by pipe 73, and each pipe 70 is,' provided with a forwardly extending horizontal pipe 7 4,-which, in turn, 'communicates with a (pendant jet pi e 75, the'pipes being space from pipe 72 approximately for the width of the-particular hood cham- 'ber', so that cans may pass between the two sets of ipes. The pipes 75 are also. spaced longitu inally of the machine sufiiciently to lie substantiall in the angles of said hood chamber at the' ront side of the machine. An emiualizing pipe. 76 connects-the upper ends the pipes 75 and, as a convenience of mechanical construction, a connection may be effected by the use of a lon thread 77 and a jamb nut '78 at one end of t e pipe '7 6. Each of the pipes 75 is formed with et openings 79 located for directing the streams toward the axis of the can within the particular hood chamber. Pipes 75 are capped or otherwise closed at the lower end. v

The several levers 48, 48 and48" project through vertical'slots 49 in the frame 5 and exten to a point in the path of movement of the forward, lower edge of hood 29 in coming to a seated position, the relation of the parts being such that, when the hood is seated, its said edge, as clearly seen in Fig.

5, rests upon and depresses the levers 48, 48 and 48 and thereb holds open the several valves 46, 46" an 46,. As soon'as the hood is raised, the springs within the valves themselves (not illustrated) return the valves to a seated position and propor- 'tionately elevate the valve operating levers.

In order to lock the hood 29 in the closed position during each separate cleansing operation, a keeper 50 is rigidly fixed to frame 5 and extends horizontally beneath the charging end portion of the'hood 29, as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. A pendent, freely pivoted, latch 50 is carried by the hood 29 and tapered to slide past keeper- 50' as the hood is coming to a closed position, the detent of the latch 50 fallinginto a-locking position be'neath'the keeper.50 just as the hood-29 reaches its fully closed position. The lower end portion of the latch 50is in line with the axis of piston 23, so that when a return stroke of the carriage 12 occurs,

incident to the travel of the piston 23', the

extended portion 24 of the piston rod causes the abutment 51 thereof to contact with the lower end portion of latch 50 and swings the same free from keeper 51, sothat the hood may be swung wfreel 'to its elevated position, as seen in dotte lines in Fig. 2.

For convenience in the manual swingin of ed to a lower portion of the hood and outstands hood 29, an appropriate handle 53 is laterally therefrom, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2,

to a convenient ',pointof access for the operator.

, The operation of the machine maybe brief-- ly stated as follows: A can is placed on'the.

protruding charging end of rails 11, hood 29 is elevated, and pump 18 is started. The

18 will, therefore, open the valve 20 and allow the fluid -to pass through pipe 22 to.

riage 12 is making its return; In thisposi tion, the can is in line with 'the first com-.

hood being raised, the valves 46, 46 and 46? will be closed, and the pressure from pump the leeder 22'. v,

partment of hood 29, and willbe disposed I approximately axially above the cold water. jet 43. The hood is then lowered, and in reaching its closed position, .depress'e's levers 48,- 48 and 48 and thus effects discharge through all of the lower jets 43/68, 39 and 41 and also all of the exterior /jets provided in pipes 35*, 35 70 and 75. course, the second, third and fourth chambers of the hood will as yet be empty, but after the machine has reached the fourth operation,'all

of the hood chambers will be filled with cans inthe various stages of bein cleansed, and the operation will continue with the machine thus filled, one can bein discharged from the machine and one can ing charged into the machine with each operation. As soon as the valve 48 is open, so that there is a free discharge from the pipe 36, the pressurewill drop sutficiently at valve 20 to allow said valve to take its seat. The pressure in pipe 22 thereupon ceases, and the bleeder 22" allows the discharge of the' fluid from the cylinder 21. The. valve "22 is important in that its location will effectively control the speed at which the weight 28 may pull the carriage 12 and the piston. 23 back to the starting point. Such control also governs the length of time of the cleansing operation. The. carriage thus returns under the action of weight 28, while the can re-'.

mains in the first chamber of thehood 29. I

As the piston 23 is reaching its initial position, the abutment 51 strikes latch 50 and releases the same. This is a signal to the operator to raise the hood. If he neglects to do so, the parts will remain stationary with the several cleansing fluids continuing to jet. As soon as the hood is raised, the jetting ceases, as the valves 46, 46 and 46 close instantly. Valve 20 opens and a second stroke of the carriage 12 begins. The second can will have, in the meantime, been placed on the charging end of rails 11, and will be advanced by dogs 13 to the position above jet '43, while the first can advances to a position above jet 68 and in the location for being within the second chamber of hood 29 when the hood is closed. The dogs 13 13 effectively advance the cans with the advance movement of the carriage, but freely depress and escape the cans on the return movement, leaving the cans in their advanced positions.

When the first can has reached the position of the second hood chamber, the operation will be repeated by the lowering of the hood as above described, and the can will be subjected interiorly and exteriorly to the jet of detergent fluid. The next step of operation is a repetition of that above described, involving on the part of the operator the raising of the hood as soon as the latch 50 is again released, a third can being supplied to the carriage. The first can will now be moved into position above the jet 39, and the hood lowered to subject the cans to the cleansing jets. Hot water is thus discharged against the interior and exterior of the first can to rinse same thoroughly. It is to be noted that while there is no control valve for the hot .water jets, the discharge of hot water through jet 39 and the jets of pipes 35 and 35 is effectively governed by the combined action of the valves 46 and 4.6, since the discharge of cold water and of steam into the heating chamber 45 controls the delivering of hot water to said jets.

With the nextstep in the operation, a fourth can is added by being placed on the extended ends of rails 11 at'the charging end, and the-first can is advanced to the position above the steam jet 41, which injects steam to the interior of the can adequately for thoroughly sterilizing the same. With the next complete step of themachine, the first can will be discharged onto the platform 7, and the machine will continue thus in full operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A receptacle cleaning apparatus comprising in combination an intermittently movably carriage for shifting receptacles to be washed; a cylinder having a piston therein for actuating the carriage; means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston; means i for discharging fluid from said transmitting means and utilizing it as a cleaning agent against the receptacles and thereby reducing the pressure on said piston; and a valved bleeder port for the cylinder.

2. A receptacle cleaning apparatus comprising in combination an intermittently movable carriage for shifting receptacles to be washed along a predetermined path; a cylinder having a piston therein for actuating the carriage; means for transmitting a fluid under ressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston, including a pressureresponsive valve; means for discharging fluid from said transmitting means and utilizing it as a cleaning agent against the receptacles, comprising a valve; said pressureresponsive valve being connected with said discharging means for opening said cylinder to said fluid transmitting means for actuating said piston when said discharge valve is closed.

3. A receptacle cleaning apparatus comprising in combination an intermittently movable carriage for shifting receptacles to be washed; a cylinder having a piston therein for actuating the carriage; means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston including a pressure-responsive valve; and means for discharging fluid from said transmitting means in advance of said valve and utilizing it as a cleaning agent against the receptacles and thereby reducing the pressure on said valve to permit it to close.

4. A receptacle cleaning apparatus comprising 1n comblnation an intermittently movable carriage for shifting receptacles to be washed; a cylinder having a piston therein for actuating the carriage; means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuating said piston; means for discharging fluid from said transmitting means and utilizing it as a cleaning agent against the receptacles and thereby reduclng the pressure on said piston; means for enclosing said receptacles to be washed and movable to and from an enclosing position; valves in said discharging means and means operated by said enclosing means for opening said valves when said enclosing means 1s moved to its enclosing position.

5. A can washing machine comprising in combination a frame; acarriage on said frame; means carried by the carriage for shifting cans to be washed along a predetermined path; washing means arranged along said path; means for delivering a plurality of fluids under pressure to the washing means; valves for controlling the delivery of said fiuids; actuating means for the receptacles, comprising a valve; said pressure-responsive valve bein connected with said discharging means %or opening said cylinder to said fluid transmission means for actuating said piston when said discharge valve is closed; means for enclosin said receptacles to be washed and movab e to and from an enclosing position; and means operated by said'enclosing means for controlling the operation of said discharge valve. a v

7 A receptacle cleaning apparatus comprising in combination an intermittently movable carriage for shifting receptacles to be washed; a cylinder having a piston therein for actuating the carriage; means for transmitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuatin said piston; means for dischargin fluid romsaid transmitting means and uti izing it as a cleaningagent against the receptacles and thereby reducin the pressure on said piston; a va ve in saij discharging means; a lever for actuating said valve; a movably mounted hood for enclosing thereceptacle and having a part located in contact with said lever when the hood is moved to an enclosing position for opening saidvalve.

8. A can washing machine comprising in combination a frame; a carriage on said frame; means carried by the carriage for a shifting cans to be washed along a predetermined path; spraying means arranged along said path; means for delivering a plurality of fluids under pressure to said spraying means; a hood movable to and from a position'for enclosin the cans to be washed;

- valves for contro 'ng the delivery of said fluids, and means operated by said hood for opening said valves .when the hood is in enclosing position.

9. A receptacle cleaning apparatus com-- prising a support; a reciprocating carriage mounted thereon; means for imparting intermittent movement to said carriage for moving receptacles to be washed along apredetermined path; spraying means along said path; a hood for enclosing said receptacles while being washed; said hood pivoted to be swung to and from a position to overlie said carriage and enclose said receptacles; pipes for supplying a plurality offluids under pressure tov said spraying means; valves in said pipes for controlling the passage of washingfluids; and means operated by said hood for opening said valves when said hood is moved to 1ts enclosing position.

In testimony whereof I have'signed my name to this specification.

I HARRY D. LATHROP. 

